Arrests made after tagging spree

WRONG TRACK: Marlborough Slot Car Club member Nigel Boyce was incensed to find that their low-budget, community club had been tagged.

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Blenheim police have made more arrests in relation to a spate of tagging in the town.

More than 40 properties in the town have been tagged in the past three weeks, including buildings, fences, telephone boxes and a utility vehicle.

A 19-year-old man was charged with wilful damage in relation to graffiti that appeared above an electrical store in May.

A 16-year-old boy has been charged with burglary and wilful damage in relation to a break in and graffiti at the A & P Park, and has also been charged with wilful damage in relation to other graffiti.

A 17-year-old Blenheim youth was the first arrested, and charged in relation to tagging in the town. He was to appear in the Blenheim District Court yesterday charged with wilful damage.

Marlborough police area commander Inspector Simon Feltham said the three arrests in the last two days came as the result of some intensive investigations in recent weeks.

"Wilful damage around our town affects everybody and the young people of Marlborough need to get the message that police will not turn a blind eye to this sort of offending," he said.

The 19-year-old will appear in the Blenheim District Court on August 4, while the 16-year-old has been referred to Youth Aid.

At the Marlborough Slot Car Club, the front door of the clubrooms was kicked in, and about 12 cans of spray-paint taken. Walls, the slot car track, electrical sockets, computer screens, floors and benches were tagged.

It took three men about four hours to clean up the mess.

Marlborough District Council reserves and amenities officer Robert Hutchinson last week said 21 incidents of graffiti had been reported to the council this month, with four reported in June.